MONTANA FARM REVIEW 



SPRING WHEAT. 



Moisture conditions were quite favorable for the start of the 1923 spring wheat crop, 

 but more than the usual proportion was sown late, because of lack of labor and a back- 

 ward spring. Average yields per acre were reduced about fifty per cent in the eastern 

 counties by several temporary hot dry periods, and by black rust Grasshoppers devas- 

 tated a considerable acreage in the north central district, and reduced the average yields 

 greatly there. In all other sections the yields were generally better than any year since 

 1916, and brought the average for the state up to within a tenth of a bushel of the 

 average for 1922. The quality of the spring wheat was not as good as usual, due to light 

 chaffy grain in the eastern sections, and to some injury from rains after harvest, espe- 

 cially in the central and southern portions. Prices for the crop were very disappointing, 

 and farmers produced wheat at a loss except where yields were unusually good. 



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 Tofol S/(7/e acrvu^e /92^ - Z, 793. OOO. 



LcJch dot represcTTti COO ceres 



WINTER WHEAT. 



Winter wheat for 1923 was seeded under unfavorable conditions, and the young 

 plants made a very poor start before winter set in. Abandonment was unusually heavy 

 in the following spring, but that remaining for harvest yielded much better than was 

 expected earlier in the season, the average yield per acre for 1923 being the best since 

 1916. As very little winter wheat is grown in the eastern counties, the average yield 

 was not adversely influenced as was that of spring wheat. In the fall of 1923 a big 

 reduction in the acreage sown to winter wheat took place in the central and north 

 central counties, partly on account of farmers being occupied by delayed harvesting and 

 threshing, and partly by the intention to replace it by spring wheat. This reduction 

 was partially offset by increased seedings in the eastern fourth of the state and in the 

 northwestern part 



